Monday, July 30, 2018

Texas Neo-Nazi Group Attacks San Antonio's Occupy ICE Encampment

Last Saturday morning, while many activists were still asleep, the San Antonio Occupy Ice encampment was attacked by a group of around 20 masked individuals from Patriot Front, the Texas-based white supremacist, fascist and neo-Nazi group.

"Camp Cicada," an idea inspired to take roots in light of the Trump administrations "zero tolerance policy," has been alive with fluctuating numbers since July 17. The group is an extension of the national Occupy ICE movement, calling for the dissolution of ICE and for solidarity with immigrants seeking asylum. Locally they have shown opposition over the past weeks with noise demonstrations, vigils and disrupting the flow of busses containing detained immigrants.

In a recording of the aftermath of the attack, the alt-right antagonists are heard chanting "strong borders, strong nations" along with other slurs directed toward the Occupy protestors. They are also shown to be carrying flags symbolic of the patriot movement, which is bolstered by white supremacist and ethno-state supportive ideas.

No one was injured in the attack but damages were suffered to some tents, coolers, and other structural supplies. The camp was up and running again later that day.

In a video posted to the Occupy Twitter page, a member stated "we're going to rebuild, overall it was just surface damage, they just wanted a photo-op."

Literal fascists from Patriot Front attacked the @AbolishICESATX encampment. People & orgs on the ground in San Antonio need to step up & protect the comrades, and we all need to be prepared for more of this nationwide. https://t.co/5gWU4EYqMU

However, the unnamed organizers narrating the video continued: "In the same way we're putting our bodies on the line to get this [ICE] building out of our city, fascists are here putting their bodies on the line to keep it in. Not only to keep it in, but to f*cking fortify it. That's what's happening here."

Later in the video, connections are drawn between the upholding of ICE and fascist ideology as a sort of "new form of ethnic cleansing."